India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: Mayank Agarwal’s century powers hosts

India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: With Mayank Agarwal scoring 108, and half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, India end the first day on 273/3.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: Opener Mayank Agarwal continued his rich vein of form with a solid unbeaten 86 as India comfortably reached 168/2 at Tea on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Pune. Agarwal’s approach against fast bowling and Cheteshwar Pujara’s (58 off 112 balls) perfect technique put India in control on Day 1. The duo added 138 runs for the second wicket with minimum fuss despite India losing Rohit Sharma’s (14) wicket in the first hour itself.

The first two sessions of the match panned out similar to the way the first Test went as India, leading 1-0 in the series, looked to out-bat the Proteas on a good surface, conducive for stroke-players. The South African bowlers hit better lengths during the first session, especially Kagiso Rabada (2/39 in 13 overs), who got first Test hero Rohit (14 off 35 balls).

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India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights:

A good opening day for hosts!

Stumps!

After four more overs, the lightmeter is out and the reading isn’t satisfactory for play to continue. India end the day on 273/3 as Virat Kohli finish Day 1 on 63* with Ajinkya Rahane who is on 18*. Kagiso Rabada remained the deadliest outlet for South Africa who scalped the wickets of Rohit Sharma (14), Cheteshwar Pujara (58) and Mayank Agarwal (108). A good day for the hosts who survived for 85.1 overs, losing just three wickets.

Fifty for Kohli!

If you have to bring up your 23rd Test half-century, then you do it in style in 91 balls. Virat Kohli with a wonderful cover-drive that keeps Temba Bavuma running and Vernon Philander wondering where he went wrong. Two boundaries from the over. IND are 257/3 after 81 overs. 

Maharaj or a commoner?

Keshav Maharaj continues his run-conceding run from the first Test, as he concedes nine runs from his over. Virat Kohli with two boundaries, which gets him upto 36*. The South African spinner is on 0/89 after 29 overs. IND are 232/3 after 76 overs.

Two boundaries

Two boundaries in that Anrich Nortje over. Virat Kohli pulls one to the fence before Ajinkya Rahane gets off the mark off his 17th delivery. A fine clip through mid-wicket from the Indian vice-captain.

WICKET!

Rabada comes to South Africa’s rescue again as Mayank Agarwal departs after an impressive knock of 108 off 195 deliveries. Ajinkya Rahane joins Virat Kohli in the middle. India are 198/3 with Rabada claiming all three wickets.

CENTURY

Mayank Agarwal brings up his second straight century off 183 balls. He follows up his double-ton in the first Test with a fine 100 in Pune. His knock includes 16 fours and 2 sixes so far with India nearing 200-run mark.

TEA

It’s tea on Day 1 of the second Test and the hosts India are 168/2 with Agarwal (86*) and Kohli (0*) at the crease. After Rohit Sharma departed early, Mayank and Cheteshwar Pujara brought up half-centuries to keep India in control. Pujara departed soon after half-century with Rabada claiming both wickets. 

OUT!

Rabada with the breakthrough for South Africa as he claims his second wicket Cheteshwar Pujara, who departs for 58. A 138-run stand is broken with Du Plessis taking a sharp catch in the deep. Virat Kohli comes to the crease.

FIFTY

FIFTY! Cheteshwar Pujara brings up his second straight fifty and 22nd Test half-century as India cross 150-run mark. The India No 3 gets there in 108 balls as he eyes a big one.

100-run partnership

100-run partnership between Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara comes up for the second wicket. Mayank brings it up by pulling Nortje who seems to be overdoing the short-ball strategy

FIFTY

Mayank Agarwal’s impressive form continues as he gets to his fourth Test half-century in 112 balls. And with that, India cross 100-run mark after 34 overs on Day 1.

Back-to-back boundaries for Mayank

Mayank gets back-to-back boundaries as he closes in on half-century. Keshav Maharaj tosses it up and the Indian opener drives one straight back before clipping the next ball past mid-wicket.

LUNCH

India are 77/1 (Mayank 34*, Pujara 19*) at Lunch on Day 1 of the Pune Test. South Africa managed to get only one wicket in the first session of the day, but a crucial one as first Test centurion Rohit Sharma departed for 14.

Three boundaries in one over

Opener Mayank Agarwal slams three 4s in the 14th over to take India past 50 runs. The first one was perhaps the shot of the day so far. Nortje pitched it full and the right-hander hit it straight back for four. The next one was past covers and the third was to the left of mid-off. Mayank brings India back on track after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal. 

Pujara dropped by Bavuma!

Cheteshwar Pujara dropped by Bavuma at forward short leg! A 141.6km/h half-volley on leg-stump, not the intended way to get a wicket I’m sure, but Pujara has flicked it into the torso of Bavuma and it’s just bounced off him. India 36/1 after 12 overs.

Rohit Sharma gone

After spending 9.5 overs patiently and watchfully, Rohit Sharma got out in the last ball of the 10th over. He fell for Rabada’s delivery and caught behind the stumps by Quinton de Kock for 14 off 35 balls. India lost their first. After 10 overs India 25/1.

Rohit Sharma narrowly escapes

Vernon Philander had almost hit the bull’s eye. Huge appeal. Philander didn’t even bother appeal and ran straight through and was more than halfway down the pitch before turning back. The umpire shakes his head. Mayank seemed to be turning his back as though going off. LBW: impact, umpire’s call outside off, and clipping the top of the stumps, again umpire’s call.

First boundary from Mayank Agarwal

Indian opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal is taking time at the middle. Both are watchful and leaving ball carefully. Meanwhile, Mayank managed his first boundary off Rabada’a ball. After 4 overs India 12/0. 

Anrich Nortje- The debutant

Anrich Nortje is making his debut for South Africa today. He is a 25-year-old bowler.

Rohit Sharma-Mayank Agarwal walking down

So India’s newly formed opening pair, which is just one Test old, has walked down to the middle at Pune. Vernon Philander opens for Proteas.

Virat Kohli- The Most successful skipper

Most Tests as India captain:
60 MS Dhoni (27 wins)
50 V KOHLI (29)*
49 S Ganguly (21)
47 S Gavaskar (9)
47 M Azharuddin (14)
40 MAK Pataudi (9)

India win the toss, to bat first

Skipper Virat Kohli has won the toss here at Pune and he chose to bat first. India have made one change in the playing eleven. Umesh Yadav is in and Hanuma Vihari goes out for the second Test. 

Significant day for Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

A significant day for Indian skipper Virat Kohli. It’s his 50th Test as captain. Only Mahendra Singh Dhoni has captained India more. Kohli leaves behind Sourav Ganguly, who captained in 49 Tests.

Hello and Welcome

Hello and welcome to our live blog where you will get all live updates of the second India v South Africa Test at Pune. The first match was a great contest. If the second can be as good, we’re in for a mouth-watering next few days of Test cricket.

Playing XIs:

INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Senuran Muthusamy, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

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